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TYNGSBORO — After falling on opening day, Pentucket had two weeks to think about the loss, and prepare for Greater Lowell.

“The loss really got to us,” said Sachems running back C.J. Lataille. “Every single day it got worse. We just wanted to get onto the field and show them what we have.”

The Manchester Essex softball team came into yesterday's season finale against Greater Lowell looking to accomplish two things:

First, the Hornets wanted to win their final game of the season, which would give them a better final record than last season.

Sophomore Stephanie Rudis tossed a two-hitter and carried a shutout into the seventh and final inning to pace the unbeaten Bulldogs (2-0) over Greater Lowell, 4-2.

North Shore led after just an inning and build their lead to 4-0 thanks to Nicole Coppen (three hits, two runs), Emily Pontes (two hits) and Jillian Tentindo (two hits).

Six days after the New England Patriots failed to make history, the Greater Lawrence wrestling team made a lot of it yesterday at the Division 2 North Sectional at Beverly High School.

The Reggies, who are the defending Division 2 dual-meet champions, overwhelmed the 12-team field to finish first with 278 points, placing seven in the finals, crowned four champions, placed all 14 wrestlers (top six) and advanced 12 to next week's Division 2 state meet at Reading.

How do you spell dynasty, again?

In Commonwealth Conference wrestling, it's definitely spelled R-E-G-G-I-E-S as Greater Lawrence proved once again yesterday at Whittier Tech by winning its seventh straight CAC meet. The Reggies have also won eight consecutive CAC regular-season titles.

Bouncing right back into action after the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament, Greater Lawrence found the Commonwealth Conference more to its liking yesterday.

Donald Celestin scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Reggies to a 68-51 victory over Greater Lowell. Brian Cabrera and Joey Rivera each added 14 points and Nate Adames led an aggressive Reggies defensive attack.

The Gryphons jumped out to a 29-0 lead at halftime and withstood a furious charge by the host Bulldogs (0-10).

Junior Cam White of Swampscott had another big game for North Shore, catching a 23-yard touchdown pass, rushing for a 1-yard score and converting a pair of 2-point conversion rushes.

PEABODY | A goaltender's save percentage drops dramatically when a state tournament game extends to a penalty kick shootout, but Greater Lowell coach Dan Kane liked his team's odds against Hamilton-Wenham last night when their Division 3 North semifinal game was still tied through two overtimes.

Give this game ball to the defense.

Greater Lawrence Tech was finding it hard to turn a wide-field position advantage into points against a hulking Greater Lowell squad. Halfback Nate Adames was a marked man once again, but this time he was held in check with only 80 yards. Major penalties took two Reggie touchdowns off the board and killed other two drives while an interception five yards from paydirt ended another march.

HAVERHILL | Greater Lowell slipped past Whittier Tech in a fumble-filled Saturday morning contest. As rain fell steadily, both sides struggled to keep their footing and their hold on the ball. When the final seconds ticked away the Wildcats were on the losing end, 21-20.